Origin
Erie, PA
Evening in Erie on Sunday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
7h 51m
Distance
423.8 mi
682 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
If you are planning a trip across Pennsylvania, this 423.8-mile journey from Erie to Fairview is a significant undertaking that requires roughly 7 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Because of the duration, it is best suited as a full-day trip, though you should be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You will navigate via the Keystone Shortway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and the Raymond P. Shafer Highway. Budgeting around $70 for fuel is a smart move to cover the distance comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar landscape throughout the transit. It is a practical, direct route that connects these two Pennsylvania points efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
211.9 miles from Erie, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While the route is technically composed of 22% highway, the experience shifts significantly as you transition between major thoroughfares. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 257.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which serves as the primary backbone of your trip. The remaining segments require more active navigation as you weave through local roads. Be ready for the contrast between the high-speed stretches and the more technical, winding sections that define the later parts of your journey.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 423.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Greengarden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 403.1 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290 / West 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MacDade Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward MacDade Boulevard East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Between Erie, PA and Fairview, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.
Patp
Allentown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 257.1 mi | 4h 38m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 75.1 mi | 1h 21m |
| Raymond P Shafer Highway | 66.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 19.2 mi | 26m |
| West 12th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Macdade Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Fairview Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Erie, PA and Fairview, PA.
Start on State Street
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard
Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway
Continue on I 79
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476; PATP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Macdade Boulevard
Turn right onto Fairview Road
Turn right onto Essex Avenue
Arrive at destination
To keep your energy steady over the nearly 8-hour drive, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and reset. Since the route is quite long, departing early in the morning is your best bet to avoid late-night driving fatigue. Take advantage of the flexibility offered by the shorter highway portions to refuel whenever you hit a convenient stop, as the local road segments may have fewer services. Given the 257.1-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you depart. Pacing yourself is essential, so don't hesitate to utilize those two planned breaks to break up the monotony of the longer segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 93 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.9 miles or 3h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairview, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Erie, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Erie, PA
This is one driving day of about 423.8 miles and 7h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 211.9 mi from Erie, PA · 3h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
212 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 211.9 miles from Erie, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 257.1 miles.
The final approach into Fairview, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fairview, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$70.13 one way
$140.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $76.73 | $153.47 |
| premium | $4.92 | $82.12 | $164.25 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $94.15 | $188.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 148.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 127.1 | 1 | $44.50 | $20.34 |
| Efficient EV | 106 | 1 | $37.08 | $16.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 169.5 | 2 | $59.33 | $27.12 |
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Erie on Sunday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Fairview on Sunday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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